What Would Irv Have Said?

Truth be known, the Packers were tired of the annual off-season retirement sideshow. Favre become an 800 pound gorilla and they truly wanted to move on, with or without Favre.
He will not finish the 2008 season.

Excellent note. I have been telling my friends that Brett is what the Packers made him. THese last few years really ballooned his head!

Like most Packerfans, I will miss having the Gunslinger around. Cheeseheads everywhere have been spoiled with having a QB that can stretch the field (although not always in our favor) like Favre can do. It was a great run, ending on a top-drawer season. No one knows how well he will do, but the Packers bringing in Aaron Rodgers (Bootlegger) was a normal process all Teams go thru as their Star QB get past the age of 30-35. There's nothing shocking about that process. The shocking part was watching Favre act like he shouldn't have to be hospitable to the guy. In fact, I would take it one step further and remember that Favre used to say he shouldn't have to be the Leader of the Pack - "these guys are paid a lot of money, I shouldn't have to rah-rah them into a winning mindset" (I paraphrase, but real Packerfans will remember reading that comment by Brett in the papers many years ago, after Reggie White was gone)

I read a comment on comparing Bart Starr & Brett Favre and I totally agree that the Gunslinger attitude is great to watch and keeps you on the edge of your seat, making for some great football game(s) to watch, but I would have rather had more quality (Superbowl Trophies) from the guy than the extensive production (most passes ever thrown?), as well. More quality over production would have brought home more Lombardi's, the biggest item missing in his long career. It's a bit depressing, to have to admit that "Brett Favre Is The Most Intercepted Quarterback in NFL History" and now he has a chance to extend THAT streak. I think everyone should take other QB's timelines & success and when they stop, compare Favre with exactly the same amount of tenure - see what you find out.

As for the recent turning down by Brett Favre of the millions ($$$) in his share of the Football Jersey sales, he could have went ahead and took that money and then surprised everyone.... by giving it to the aging, disabled Players of the old days, like Willie Wood, Herb Adderley, etc.,etc. As far as that goes, John Madden could do these former greats a real service by donating a sizable chunk of his Madden video game receipts to those very same Players, as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/sports/football/01araton.html

I have a real question as to who's been advising Brett all along. Because, whomever it is doesn't seem to really care about the game itself or the Players who made it possible for Favre, Manning, etc., to make $100mil/10 years for just "playing a game"... And, yes, I think Favre just walked away from a SuperBowl caliber Team primed for another run. And, no, I don't think this is clinical depression.

I'll miss the guy, of course. He will always be a Packer. And, they should wait to retire his Jersey until after he really has retired +1 year more-give everyone time to heal. You heard him, he knows he'll always be a Packer! Heck, they waited several Seasons before giving anyone ol' #93 to wear, they can hold off letting anyone else wear #4.

I wish Brett Favre good luck!

The only standard of success that I will accept from Thompson and McCarthy's decision about Favre will be making it to the Super Bowl--either this year or next year. Period. They didn't think Favre could do it. Well, then either do it without him or they should be fired.